“Yes, for otherwise we’d have had to sleep on board to-night,” laughed Frank.

Supper over, they sat around, talking and laughing, in the endeavor to forget the sorrow that gnawed at their boyish hearts.  They had enjoyed this trip so much that it would be with the keenest regret that they turned their backs on the Sunny South, and once more struck out for the snow-clad hills of their native land.

Jerry sang, and Bluff orated to his heart’s content.  Finally they noticed that Frank was looking at something he held in his hand.

“It’s the sealed document his father gave him before starting,” said Bluff.

“Tell me about that, will you!  Frank, didn’t he give you permission to open it when you came in sight of Cedar Keys?” cried Jerry eagerly.

Frank, in reply, was tearing off the end of the envelope, a smile of expectation on his face.

“I guess it’s going to turn out a joke,” hazarded Bluff.

“Now, I’ve been thinking that perhaps they settled it we should come up by way of the ocean from Jacksonville,” declared Will, “and that’s the surprise.”

“How is it, Frank?  Tell us about it!” cried Jerry as he saw the face of the other light up when his eyes took in the import of the communication he found inside the envelope his father had given him.

Frank turned around.  His gaze did not rest immediately on his chums, but was given entirely to little Joe, which fact amazed the others still more.

“It’s the greatest thing ever, fellows!  It makes me so happy I hardly know whether I’m dreaming or not!  And the best of it is, the whole business is about our little campmate here, Joe Abercrombie!” was what he said, seizing the lad’s hand warmly.

CHAPTER XXV

THE SECRET OF THE SEALED PACKET—­CONCLUSION

“About me!” exclaimed Joe, looking amazed.

“Talk to me about surprises!” ejaculated Jerry.  “Frank does love to knock us all silly!”

“How could your father know about Joe, here?” demanded skeptical Lawyer Bluff.

“Joe, what was your father’s name?” asked Frank, eagerness in his bright eyes.

“Joseph Sprague Abercrombie,” came the immediate response.

“Hurrah!  That settles it!” shouted Frank, throwing his hat into the air.  His chums could not ever remember having seen him one-half so excited before.

“Take pity on us!” cried Will, catching the other by the sleeve.

“Yes, hurry up and tell, or I’ll burst!” ejaculated Bluff.

Jerry shook Frank, in his earnestness, saying: 

“It isn’t fair, and you know it!  We’re chums, and we deserve to be taken into your confidence.”

“Right you are; and now sit down and listen to me.  I’m not going to read this letter out, but you can look it over later, as you please.  My father says he was just about to come down to Cedar Keys himself, or send a trusted clerk, for the business is very important, you see.”